Setting up arrangement for a combined printing and stamping machine

ABSTRACT

A printing machine, which is normally combined with a stamping machine so that portions of sheets can be printed and stamped out while the printing machine and stamping machine are driven by a common motor and, can be separated from the stamping machine so that during the set up period, the printed sheets are deposited by auxiliary depositing means, while the stamping machine is either at a standstill, or being set up while driven by an other motor. Manual control means operates simultaneously a clutch between the output roller of the printing machine and the input roller of the stamping machine, and a sheet transfer roller which transfers sheets from the output roller to the input roller only when the printing and stamping machines are combined. Preferably, the transfer roller is driven during each revolution by an eccentric transmission at two different speeds corresponding to the peripheral speeds of the output and input rollers.

United States Patent Zirnstein et al.

[ Nov. 12, 197.4

1 1 SETTING UP ARRANGEMENT FOR A [75] lnventors: Peter Zirnstein, Rathmannsdorf;

Erwin Schebiella, Heidenau; Siegfried Koerner, Dresden; Joachim Weise, Dresden; Horst Mulansky, Dresden, all of Germany [73] Assignee: Veb Polygraph Leipzig Kombinat Fuer Polygraphische Maschinen und Ausruestungen, Leipzig, Germany [22] Filed: Apr. 2, 1973 [211 Appl. No.: 347,360

[52] US. Cl. 101/24, 101/183 [51] Int. Cl B4lb 5/02 [58] Field of Search... 101/183, 184, 232, 136-140, 101/216-218, 19.24; 271/53 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,110,980 3/1938 Swift 271/53 MG 3,422,757 1/1969 Grobman et al 3,516,355 6/1970 Giuiuzza 3,691,948 9/1972 Southam et al 101/183 10/1972 10/1972 Southam et al 101/183 Primary ExaminerRobert E. Pulfrey Assistant ExaminerEdward M. Coven Attorney, Agent, or Firm Michael S. Striker [57] ABSTRACT A printing machine, which is normally combined with a stamping machine so that portions'of sheets can be printed and stamped out while the printing machine and stamping machine are driven by a common motor and, can be separated from the stamping machine so that during the set up period, the printed sheets are mission at two different speeds corresponding to the peripheral speeds of the output and input rollers.

20 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures Henkel 101/183 sum u or a PATENTEDlmv 1; I974 PATENTEnnuv 12 mm 3,847,077

I SHEET 5 or 8 PATENTEUNUY 12 I974 3847.077

sum ear 8 PRINTING AND STAMPING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a combined printing and stamping machine, wherein'the printing machine may consist of several printing devices. The stamping machine has stamping rollers for grooving, stamping out, and breaking out sheet portions which were previously imprinted. The printing machine may be fixedly connected with a stamping machine, but by operation of a clutch, the printing machine is separated from the stamping machine, so that the printing machine and the stamping machine can be separately driven, set up, and tested. 7

Combined printing and, stamping machines are known which, however, cannot operate with the required precision of printing and stamping operations, or are concerned with prints which can be interrupted anywhere by a stamped cutout.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is one object of the invention to combine a printing machine with a stamping machine in such a manner that the driving connection between the two machines can be interrupted by a clutch, so that it is possible to separately operate the printing machine and stamping machine, which has great advantages for the setting up of the machines. In this manner, the time during which the machine has to be set up so that printing and stamping operations cannot be carried out, is substantially reduced. I

Since for the purpose of setting up the printing machine, it is necessary to operate the printing machine at tates with the peripheral speed of the input roller of the stamping machine when placing the sheet thereon.

Consequently, the peripheral speed of the sheet transfer roller is varied during each revolution. I

Furthermore, it is necessary that the sheet transfer roller is separated from the output roller of the printing machine and the input roller of the stamping machine, I

when the stamping and printing machines are separated for independent .setting up. Otherwise, damage may occur when the printing and stamping machines are independently driven by two different motors during a setting up period.

The novel features which are considered as charac-.

thereof, will be best understood from the following de- 7 scription of specific embodiments when read in cona normal operational speed in order to determine the distribution of differently colored inks, the invention provides an auxiliary sheet depositing means between the printing machine and the stamping machine on which sheets, imprinted during the setting up of the printing machine, are deposited. Since printing machines are built in rows for different sheet formats, while the printing rollers of the printing machine have a different diameter for each sheet format, it is desirable that the stamping machine is constructed in such a manner that, independently of the diameter of the printing cylinders of the printing machine, all stamping rollers, namely grooving roller, stamping roller, and

breaking out roller, have the same diameter.

In view of practical considerations, it is assumed that for a printing machine which operates with a sheet having the greatest size, the rollers of the stamping machine have the same diameter as the rollers of the printing machine. When the printing rollers of the printing machine are designed for the smallest sheet format, the rollers of the stamping machine will have a greater diameter than the printing rollers.

Due to the fact that the same diameter is used for all rollers of the stamping machine, substantial advantages regarding manufacture and storing for the tools, which are to be attached to the rollers of the stamping machine, result.

A sheet transfer roller between the output roller of the printing machine and the input roller of the stamping machine, is constructed so that it rotates at the same peripheral speed as the output roller of the printing machine when taking the sheet therefrom, and rowhile the sheet 5 is held by grippers l0 secured-to the ther enlarged scale;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary front view illustrating the nection with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONOF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a schematic front view illustrating a combined printing and stamping machine according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view on an enlarged scale, illustrating a transfer roller, and control means for controlling the transfer roller;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side view, partially in section and broken off, illustrating the control means on a furtransfer roller in a transfer position for transferring a sheet from the output roller of the printing machine to the input roller of the stamping machine;

FIG. 5 is a side view corresponding to FIG. 4, but illustrating the transfer roller in a retracted position in which no sheet is transferred from the printing machine to the stamping machine so that the printing and stamp ing machines can be independently operated;

FIG. 6 is a side view corresponding to FIG. 5 but illustrating the output roller of the printing machine to have the same diameter as the input'roller of the stamp- DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring first to FIG. 1, a sheet feeding device 1, a

printing machine 2, and a stamping machine 3 are schematically illustrated. The. feeding device 1 feeds sheets 5 from a stack 4 to the feeding table of the printing machine from where a feeding roller 6 transports the sheet 5 to a printing roller 7 of the first printing device of the printing machine 2. A printing roller 9, which carries a printing form 8, imprints the sheet 5 the first-time,

printing roller 7. In the illustrated embodiment, the

- printing roller 7 has twice the diameter of the printing roller 9 which carries the printing form 8. Consequently, the larger printing cylinder 7 performs only separately driven printing half a revolution for each operational cycle in which printing roller 9 performs a full revolution. Consequently, the printing roller 7 is provided with two gripper systems 10.

A transporting roller 11 transports sheet 5 to the printing roller 7', where the sheet 5 is imprinted a second time by the printing roller 9 carrying the printing form 8. The transporting roller 12 supplies the sheet 5 to the output roller 13 of the stamping machine 2, from which the sheet is taken by the transfer cylinder 14 while the peripheral speed of the transfer roller 14 is equal to the peripheral speed of the output roller 13.

The transfer roller 14 then transfers the sheet to the input roller 16 of the stamping machine, while rotating at a different angular speed so that the peripheral speed of the transfer roller 14 is equal to the peripheral speed of the input roller 16 during the transfer of the sheet to the input roller 16.

Input roller 16 is the counter roller to a grooving roller 18 which carries a grooving tool 17 so that a groove is made in the sheet 5. The transporting roller 19 transfers sheet 5 to the counter roller 21 which carries a counter stamping tool cooperating with the stamping tool 22 on the stamping roller 23 so that the sheet is stamped out in such a manner that the imprinted useful portions of the sheet are connected with waste portions by narrow edges. The sheet 5 is now transported by a gripper carriage 24 to the break out rollers 25,27 while the gripper carriage 24 transports the sheet 5 between the rollers 25, 27 between which the waste parts are broken out. The break out roller 25 carries a compressible layer 26, which may consist of foam rubber, while the break out roller 27 has projecting portions 28 whose shape corresponds to the shape of the respective waste portion of the sheet, and which may consist of a synthetic material. The broken out sheet portion is now transported to the gripper carriage 25,which is connected with a chain 29, and deposited on the stack 30. The chain 29 runs over chain wheels 31 and 32. During this consecutive printing and stamping operation, all rollers are interconnected for rotation, and are driven by the electromotor 33. Members 24, 29 are the main depositing means of the machine, and also driven from motor 33.

The sheet transfer roller 14 isassociated with clutch means and control means, which permit the separation between the printing machine 2 and the stamping machine 3, while on the other hand the transfer roller 14 is driven at two different speeds when connecting the printing and stamping machines. As noted above, the separation and independent operations of the printing machine 2 and stamping machine 3, substantially reduce the time during which the combined machine is not productive and has to be set up.

The varying rotary speed of the transfer roller 14 is necessary because it permits to make all stamping cylinders l6, l8, 19, 21, 23, 25 and 27 ofthe stamping machine 3 of the same diameter, which may be up to 1 /2 times the diameter of the printing roller 9 of the printing machine. This is an advantage, because sheet printing machines are built in rows corresponding to the size of the sheets. A printing machine designed for large sheet formats will have a printing roller 9 of large diameter, and a printing machine for a small size sheet, will have a printing cylinder 9 with a small diameter.

Consequently, it is. possible to connect the same stamping machine 3, in which all stamping cylinders 16, 18, 19, 21, 23, 25 and 27 have the same predetermined diameter, with printing machines designed for different sheet formats, and having printing rollers 9 with different diameters. The rotary speed of the rollers of the printing machine 2 for each cycle, and the rotary speed of the rollers of the stamping machine 3 is the same. The difference of the peripheral speeds of the rollers of the printing machine 2 and of the rollers of the stamping machine 3, are compensated by the transfer roller 14 which for this purpose, is provided with a special transmission, which will be described hereinafter, and which causes variation of the rotary speed during each revolution, corresponding to the peripheral speeds of the cooperating output roller 13 of the printing machine 2 and input roller 16 of the stamping machine 3. In accordance with the ratio between the diameters of the rollers of printing machine 2 and stamping machine 3, this transmission must be designed to satisfy required kinematic conditions.

The unitary diameter of all rollers of the stamping machine 3 is a great advantage because the attachment and setting up of the tools for grooving, stamping and breaking out on the respective rollers is substantially simplified. Furthermore, storing of tools, and a number of auxiliary tools is substantially reduced.

The rollers of the stamping machine 3 have consequently always the same diameter, irrespective of connection with a printing machine 2 for a small sheet format or a large format while the axial length of the rollers of the stamping machine 3 must correspond to the axial lengthof the rollers of the printing machine 2.

Referring now to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the sheet transfer roller 14 has a shaft 34 fixedly secured to the cylindrical body 35 in which an axially extending recess channel 35a is provided. Gripper means 37 for the sheet 5 are mounted on the gripper shaft 36, and a gripper control lever 38 is mounted on the end of the gripper shaft 36 projecting to the right as viewed in FIG. 2. Lever 38 carries a roller 39.

The right end of shaft 34, as viewed in FIG. 2, of the transfer roller 14, ismounted in a bushing 40 which is mounted in a lateral frame wall 41 for angular movement. Bushing 40 has an eccentric bore for shaft 34. The left end of shaft 34, is mounted in an eccentric bore of a bushing 42. The bushing 42 has an axis 42a, and shaft 34 has an axis 34a whose position depends on the angualr position of the bushing 42.

Bushing 42 is mounted in a sleeve 45 fixedly secured by screws 43 to the frame wall 44. The sleeve 45 has a cylindrical outer surface with an axis 45a on which a first gear 46 is mounted for rotation, meshing with the output gear 47 of the output roller 13, is best seen in FIG. 4. A second gear 48 is also mounted on sleeve 45 for free rotation, and meshes with the input gear 49 which is secured to the input roller 16 of the stamping machine. The chain wheel 84 is secured to gear 49.

The first gear 46 has a hub 50 on which an axiallyshiftable clutch element 51 is mounted which is rigidly connected by a key 52 with the first gear 46. The clutch element 51 and second gear 48 have coupling claws so that when the clutch element 51 is shifted toward gear 48, the gears 46 and 48 are coupled with each other for rotation. Since gear 46 meshes with gear 47 of the output roller 13, and gear 48 meshes with gear 49 of the input roller 16, the output roller 13 is connected with the input roller 16 for rotation when the gears 46 and 48 are coupled by the clutch element 51 in the engaged position. FIG. 3 shows a clutch 46, 51, 48 in the disengaged position in which the output roller 13 can rotate independently of the input roller 16.

An annular groove 53 in the clutch element 51 is engaged by a pair of rollers on a fork 62 at the end of lever 62, so that by angular displacement of lever 62 on the pivot 63a of a fixed bracket 63, the clutch 46, 51, 48 can be engaged and disengaged, as will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

On the left end of shaft 34 of the transfer roller 14, a radial lever arm 54 is fixedly mounted, which has an outer free end provided with a pin 54a connected by an articulated link 55 with a pin 56 carried by gear 48. Link 55 and arm 54 are also shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

When the clutch 46, 51, 48 is engaged, and the gear 48 is driven by gear 46 which is driven by the output roller 13 of the driven printingmachine 2, gear 48 drives the input roller 16, which is the counter grooving roller of the stamping machine 3. The transfer roller'14 is driven by gear 48 through the articulated linkage 55, 56, and since the shaft 34 of the sheet transfer roller 14 has an axis 34a eccentric to the axis 45a of gear 48, the rotary speed and peripheral speed of transfer roller 14 varies during each revolution.

The separating of the printing machine 2 from the stamping machine 3 for the purpose of adjusting and setting up the printing machine 2 and the stamping machine 3 is obtained by control means which simultaneously act on the clutch element 51, and the bushing 42.

A control shaft 57, see FIGS. 2 and 3, is turnably mounted in lateral walls 41 and 44. One end of control shaft 57 passes through a bore in a cover wall 58, and

carries a fixed handle 59. A cam 60 with a slanted annular cam track 61 is secured to control shaft 57, and is turned therewith. A double armed lever 62, mounted on the stationary pivot 63a on bracket 63, carries at its end a roller located in the slanted annular cam track groove 61', so that control lever 62 turns about pivot 63a when the handle 59 is operated. The other arm of lever 62 is fork-shaped and has rollers located in the annular groove 53 of the clutch element 51, so that the clutch element 51 can be shifted in axial direction to engage the gear 48 whereby the first gear 46 drives the second gear 48.

Shaft 57 carries a lever 64, see also FIG. 7, which has a pin 65 engaging a groove in lever 67 which is mounted on a fixed pin 68 on the wall 44. The other end of lever 67 is articulated with a link 69 which is articulated to the lever 70, fixedly secured to bushing 42. A corresponding linkage, indicated by primed numerals in FIG. 2, is connected with the bushing 40, and is also operated by the control shaft 57. FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate the clutch in the disengaged position.

FIG. 5 shows the apparatus in a position in which the sheet transfer roller 14 is separated and spaced from the input roller 16 of the stamping machine, and from the output roller 13 of the printing machine. In this condition, the printing machine 2 can be separately operated for the purpose of being set up and adjusted to the respective operation, while the input roller 16 of the stamping machine is at a standstill. Only gear 46, driven by gear 47, rotates freely on sleeve 45. When the stamping machine is separately operated by motor 85, gear 48 rotates on sleeve 45, and drives the input gear stamping machine 3. The sheet 5 is transported to the output roller 13 of the printing machine 2, but not transferred by the transfer roller 14, but gripped by the gripper 72 of the chain conveyor. 71, see FIGS. 1 and 8, and the opening and closing of the grippers 72 is controlled since a gripper opening cam 73 is operated by an electromagnet 74 and a connecting rod 75 so that cam 73 can be retracted. The grippers 10 of the output roller 13 release the sheet 5 only after the gripper shaft 76 is located at the rising cam portion 77 of a cam 78 fixedly secured to the lateral wall 44. The electromagnet 74 is operated by a control switch 79 when the manual control lever 59 is operated by control lever 67.

'Thechain conveyor 71 is driven by the chain gear wheel 80 which meshes with the output gear 47 of the output roller 13. In this manner, the auxiliary depositing means 71, 72 are driven by the drive means 33 of the printing machine 2 when the latter is being set up independently of the stamping machine 3.

The grippers 72 of the chain conveyor 71 place the sheet5 on a conveyor 81 (see FIG. 9) which transports the sheet 5 in a direction transverse to the transporting direction of the chain conveyor 71. Conveyor 81 has connected rods 82, and places the sheets 5 on the stack 83. The illustrated support for the stack 83 constitutes an inspection station.

When the stamping machine 3 is to be separately set up, an auxiliary second drive is used which includes an electromotor 85, see FIG. 1, driving by means of a chain 86, the chain wheel 84 which'is connected with the gear 48 so that the sheet transfer roller 14, and all rollers of the stamping machine 3 are rotated indepen- I dently of motor 33. Sheet 5 is placed on a feeding table from where it is taken by the input roller 16 of the stamping machine 3, which is preferably the counter roller of the grooving roller 18. Sheet 5 is then transported in the stamping machine 3 by the grooving, stamping, and breaking out rollers, and deposited on the stack 30.

After the printing machine 2 and the stamping machine 3 have been separately set up, as described above, the stamping machine 3 can be coupled with the printing machine 2. For this purpose, the control handle 59, see FIGS. 2, 3 and 7, must be shifted from the position I to the position II.

The clutch element 51 is shifted toward gear 48 out of the illustrated position, and the respective claws mesh and place the clutch in an engaged position so that the gears 46 and 48 are connected for rotation whereby gear 48 is driven by gear 46 which is driven through output gear 47 of the output roller 13, and

other gears of the printing machine from motor 33.

the transfer roller 14 is shifted from the inoperative position shown in FIG. 5 to the operative position shown and the gripper control cam 73 returns to the position shown in FIG. 8. In this manner, the transfer of sheet from roller 13 to roller 14 is again assured. The sheet 5 is imprinted in the printing machine 2, and then is transferred to and runs through the stamping machine 3 to be deposited on the stack 30.

When the stamping machine 3 is connected with the printing machine 2 in the event that the rollers of the stamping machine 3 have the same diameter as the roller 9 of the printing machine 2, the bushing 42 must be differently arranged, and assumes again as described above, an eccentric position in the sleeve 45, as shown in FIG. 6. The bore in bushing 42 in which shaft 34 of the sheet transfer roller 14 is located, is an an exactly central position when the gears 46 and 48 are coupled by the clutch 51. As a result, the transfer roller 14 rotates at a uniform speed. When the clutch is disengaged, the bushing 42 is also angularly displaced, but since its bore is eccentric to the outer diameter of sleeve 45, the sheet transfer cylinder 14 is separated from the output roller 13 of the printing machine 2 and the input roller 16 of the stamping machine.

From the above description it becomes apparent that the apparatus of the invention comprises a transfer roller 14 having an inoperative position, FIG. 5, separated from the output and input rollers 13, 16, and a transfer position, FIG. 5, for tranferring the imprinted sheets 5 from the output roller to the input roller; clutch means 51, 46, 58 having an engaged position for connecting the driven output roller 13, 47, the transfer roller 14, and the input roller 16, 49 for rotation, and a disengaged position, FIG. 2, in which the stamping machine 3 is not driven by drive means 33; and control means 59, 60, 62, 57, and 64 to 70 having a setting up position for placing the transfer roller 14 in the inoperative position of FIG. 5 and the clutch means 51 in the disengaged position of FIGS. 2 and 3 so that the printing machine 2 can be set up separately while imprinted sheets 5 are deposited on the first stack 83, and the stamping machine 3 is not operated by the drive means 33. The control means have an operating position for placing the transfer roller 14 in the transfer position, FIG. 4, and the clutch means 51 in the engaged position so that drive means 33 drive the printing machine 2, the transfer roller 14, and the stamping machine 3 while imprinted and stamped out sheet portions are deposited on the second stack 30.

In the disengaged position of the clutch means 51,-

the transfer rollr 14 and input roller 16 of the stamping machine 3, and other drive means 85 drive the transfer roller 14 and thereby the rollers of the stamping machine 3 independently of the printing machine 2 for setting up the stamping machine.

It will be evident that the arrangement shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 8 and 9 comprises routing means for routing a printed but unstamped sheet either to the stamping machine 3 and thence to the stacker 30, or else to the inspection station 83 (see FIGS. 8 and 9).

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or-two or more together, mah also find a useful application in other types of combined printing the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential and stamping machines differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in an arrangement forindependently setting up a printing machine and a stamping machine before the printing and stamping machines are combined and together operated, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivlanece of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims:

' 1. Setting up arrangement for a combined printing and stamping machine, comprising a printing machine including sheet feeding means, a plurality of printing rollers for printing and transporting a sheet, and including an output roller, and auxiliary depositing means for receiving printed sheets from said output roller, and for depositing said sheet on a first stack; drive means for driving said printing machine; a stamping machine including a plurality of stamping rollers including an input roller; main depositing means for receiving stamped out sheet portions from said stamping machine and" for depositing the stamped out sheets on a second stack; a transfer roller having an inoperative position separated from said output and input rollers, and a transfer position for transferring the imprinted sheets from said output roller to said input roller; clutch means having an engaged position for connecting said driven output roller, said transfer roller, and said input roller for rotation, and a disengaged position in which said stamping machine is not driven by said drive means; and control means having a setting up position for placing said transfer roller-in said inoperative position and said clutch means in said disengaged position so that said printing machinecan be set up separately while printed sheets are deposited on said first stack and said stamping machine is not driven by said drive means, and an operating position for placing said transfer roller in said transfer position and said clutch means in said engaged position so that said drive means drive said printing machine, said transfer roller, and said stamping machine while the printed and stamped out sheet portions are deposited on said second stack.

2. Arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least said transfer roller and said input roller are connected for rotation in said disengaged position of said clutch means; and comprising other drive means for driving said transfer roller and thereby said stamping machine independently of said printing machine for setting up said stamping machine.

3. Arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said output roller of said printing machine includes an output gear; wherein said input roller of said stamping machine includes an input gear; wherein said clutch means include a first gear meshing with said output gear and driven thereby, a second gear meshing with said input gear, and a clutch for connecting and disconnecting said first and second gears in said engaged and disengaged positions, respectively; and wherein said clutch is operated by said control means.

4. Arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said auxiliary depositing means include a gripper chain conveyor including grippers and a chain gear wheel; wherein said output roller includes an output gear meshing with said chain gear wheel for driving said gripper chain conveyor; movable cam means for opening and closing said grippers, and electromagnetic means controlled by said control means for actuating said cam means so that a sheet on said output roller is gripped and deposited on said first stack when said control means is in said setting up position.

5. Setting up arrangement for a combined printing and stamping machine, comprising a printing machine including sheet feeding means, a plurality of printing rollers for printing and transporting a sheet, and includng an output roller, and auxiliary depositing means for receiving imprinted sheets from said output roller, and for depositing said sheet on a first stack; drive means for driving said printing machine; a stamping machine including a plurality of stamping rollers including an input roller; main depositing means for receiving stamped out sheet portions from said stamping machine and for depositing the stamped out sheets on a second stack; a transfer roller having an inoperative position separated from said output and input rollers, and a transfer position for transferring the imprinted sheets from said output roller to said input roller; clutch means having an engaged position for connecting said driven output roller, said transfer roller, and said input roller for rotation, and a disengaged position in which said stamping machine is not driven by said drive means; and control means having a setting up position for placing said transfer roller in said inoperative position and said clutch means in said disengaged position so that said printing machine can be set up separately while imprinted sheets are deposited on said first stack and said stamping machine is not driven by said drive means, and an operating position for placing said transfer roller in said transfer position and said clutch means in said engaged position so that said drive means drive said printing machine, said transfer roller, and said stamping machine while the imprinted and stamped out sheet portions are deposited on said second stack, wherein said output roller of said printing machine includes an output gear; wherein said input roller of said stamping machine includes an input gear; wherein said clutch means include a first gear meshing with said output gear and driven thereby, a second gear meshing with said input gear, and a clutch for connecting and disconnecting said first and second gears in said engaged and disengaged positions, respectively, and wherein said clutch is operated by said control means; further including supporting means including a fixed sleeve supporting said first and second gears for free rotation about a common axis, and having an inner axial bore having a bore axis eccentric to said common axis; an eccentric bushing mounted in said bore and turnable therein by said control means, said bushing having an other eccentric bore having an other bore axis, said common axis and bore axes being parallel; and a shaft fixedly secured to said transfer roller mounted in said other eccentric bore so that said transferroller can be placed in said inoperative and transfer positions by said control means; and means connecting said shaft with said second gear for rotation.

6. Arrangement as claimed in claim 5 wherein said stamping machine includes a plurality of stamping rollers having the same diameter; wherein said printing machine includes a plurality of printing rollers at least one printing roller of said printing rollers having said diameter; and wherein the axis of said shaft coincides with said common axis when said clutch is engaged.

7. Arrangement as defined in claim 5, wherein said drive means is operative when said clutch means is in engaged position for simultaneously driving said output roller of said printing machine and said input roller of said stamping machine at different respective peripheral speeds, and further including motion-transmitting means connecting said drive means to said transfer roller for causing the latter to rotate during transfer of a sheet to the transfer roller from said output roller at substantially the peripheral speed of said output roller, and for causing said transfer roller to rotate during transfer of the sheet from said transfer roller to said input roller at substantially the peripheral speed of said input roller, and wherein said motion-imparting means comprises a radial arm secured to said shaft for rotation therewith, and an articulated link connecting the radi-' ally outer end of said arm with said second gear for imparting motion to said transfer roller.

8. Setting up arrangement for a combined printing and stamping machine, comprising a printing machine including sheet feeding means, a plurality of printing rollers for printing and transporting a sheet, and including an output roller, and auxiliary depositing means for receiving imprinted sheets from said output roller, and for depositing said sheet on a first stack; drive means for driving said printing machine; a stamping machine including a plurality of stamping rollers including an input roller; main depositing means for receiving stamped out sheet portions from said stamping machine and for depositing the stamped out sheets on a second stack; a transfer roller having an inoperative position separated from said output and input rollers, and a transfer positin for transferring the imprinted sheets from said output roller to said input roller; clutch means having an engaged position for connecting said driven output roller, said transfer roller, and said input roller for rotation, and a disengaged position in which said stamping machine is not driven by said drive' means; and control means having a setting up position for placing said transfer roller in said inoperative position and said clutch means in said disengaged position so that said printing machine can be set up separately while imprinted sheets are deposited on said first stack and said stamping machine is not driven by said drive means, and an operating position for placingsaid transfer roller in said transfer position and said clutch means in said engaged position so that said drive means drive said printing machine, said transfer roller, and said stamping machine while the imprinted and stamped out sheet portions are deposited on said second stack, wherein said output roller of said printing machine includes an output gear; wherein said input roller of said stamping machine includes an input gear; wherein said clutch means include a first gear meshing with said output gear and driven thereby, a second gear meshing with said input gear, and a clutch for connecting and disconnecting said first and second gears in said engaged and disengaged positions, respectively; wherein said clutch is operated by said control means; comprising-supporting means including a fixed sleeve supporting said first and second gears for free rotation about a common axis, and having an inner axial bore having a bore axis eccentric to said common axis; an eccentric bushing mounted in said bore and turnable therein by said control means, said bushing having an other eccentric bore having an other bore axis, said common axis and bore axes being parallel; a shaft fixedly secured to said transfer roller mounted in said other eccentric bore; and wherein said control means include first linkage means for operating said clutch, and second linkage means for operating said eccentric bushing, and manually operated means for simultaneously actuating said first and second linkage means.

9. Arrangement as claimed in claim 8 wherein said manually operated means include a control shaft connecting said first and'second linkage means, and a handle on said control shaft.

10. In combination, a printing machine comprising first conveying means operative for conveying a sheet to be printed through the printing machine along a first predetermined path, and printing means for printing upon a sheet conveyed along said first path; a stamping machine comprised of second conveying means operative for conveying a sheet to be stamped through the stamping machine along a second predetermined path, and stamping means for performing a stamping operation upon a sheet conveyed along said second path; an inspection station for the inspection of printed but unstamped sheets; and routing means operative in a first selectable mode of operation for causing a sheet which has been conveyed along said first path to be fed to said stamping machine and conveyed along said second path, and operative in a second selectable mode of operation for causing a sheet which has been conveyed along said first path to be diverted from said second path and delivered to said inspection station for examination of the printed but unstamped sheet.

II. The combination defined in claim 10, wherein said stamping means comprises means operative for cutting a sheet conveyed by said second conveying means along said second path.

12. The combination defined in claim 10, wherein said stamping means comprises means operative for grooving a sheet conveyed by said second conveying means along said second path.

13. The combination defined in claim 10, wherein said stamping means comprises means operative for cutting out at least one portion of a sheet conveyed by said second conveying means along said second path.

14. The combination defined in claim 10, wherein said stamping means comprises means operative for cutting out and removing at least one protion ofa sheet conveyed by said second conveying means along said second path.

15. The combination defined in claim 10, wherein said first and second conveying means comprise parallel conveying rollers and wherein said first and second paths are elongated meandering paths defined by said conveying rollers, and wherein the directions of elongation of said first and second paths are the same, and wherein said routing means comprises means operative when said routing means is in said second selectable mode of operation for diverting a sheet which has been conveyed along said first path away from said second conveying, printing and stamping rollers, and wherein the rollers of said printing machine are provided with respective drive gears interconnected to form a respective first power train, and wherein said printing machine further includes drive means for driving said first power train, and wherein the rollers of said stamping machine are provided with respective drive gears interconnected to form a respective second power train, and wherein said routing means includes clutch menas operative when said routing means is in said first mode for establishing force-transmitting engagement between said first and second power trains to cause the former to drive the latter, and operative when said routing means is in said second mode for disengaging said second power train from said first power train.

17. The combination defined in claim 16, wherein said stamping machine includes a respective drive means operative for separately driving said second power train when the latter is disengaged from said first power train.

18. The combination defined in claim 16, wherein said stamping machine includes a stacker for stacking stamped sheets which have been conveyed by said second conveying means along said second path, whereby when said routing means is in said first mode printed and stamped sheets will be stacked by said stacker whereas when said routing means is in said second mode printed but unstamped sheets will be delivered to said inspection station for examination.

19. Arrangement as defined in claim 13, wherein said drive means is operative when said clutch mens is in engaged position for simultaneously driving said output roller of said printing machine and said input roller of said stamping machine at different peripheral speeds, and further including motion-transmitting means connecting said drive means to said transfer roller in forcetransmitting manner and operative for causing the latter to rotate during transfer of a sheet to the transfer roller from said output roller at substantially the peripheral speed of said output roller, and for causing said transfer roller to rotate during transfer of a sheet from said transfer roller to said input roller at substantially the peripheral speed of said input roller.

20. Arrangement as claimed in claim 19 wherein said stamping machine includes a plurality of stamping rollers including said input roller and having the same diameter; wherein said printing machine includes a plurality of printing rollers, at least one printing roller of said printing rollers having a smaller diameter than said diameter of said stamping rollers, said stamping rollers and said one printing roller rotating at the same angular velocity and performing one revolution during each machine cycle, and wherein said diameter of said stamping rollers is up to 1.5 times the diameter of said 

1. Setting up arrangement for a combined printing and stamping machine, comprising a printing machine including sheet feeding means, a plurality of printing rollers for printing and transporting a sheet, and including an output roller, and auxiliary depositing means for receiving printed sheets from said output roller, and for depositing said sheet on a first stack; drive means for driving said printing machine; a stamping machine including a plurality of stamping rollers including an input roller; main depositing means for receiving stamped out sheet portions from said stamping machine and for depositing the stamped out sheets on a second stack; a transfer roller having an inoperative position separated from said output and input rollers, and a transfer position for transferring the imprinted sheets from said output roller to said input roller; clutch means having an engaged position for connecting said driven output roller, said transfer roller, and said input roller for rotation, and a disengaged position in which said stamping machine is not driven by said drive means; and control means having a setting up position for placing said transfer roller in said inoperative position and said clutch means in said disengaged position so that said printing machine can be set up separately while printed sheets are deposited on said first stack and said stamping machine is not driven by said drive means, and an operating position for placing said transfer roller in said transfer position and said clutch means in said engaged position so that said drive means drive said printing machine, said transfer roller, and said stamping machine while the printed and stamped out sheet portions are deposited on said second stack.
 2. Arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least said transfer roller and said input roller are connected for rotation in said disengaged position of said clutch means; and comprising other drive means for driving said transfer roller and thereby said stamping machine independently of said printing machine for setting up said stamping machine.
 3. Arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said output roller of said printing machine includes an output gear; wherein said input roller of said stamping machine includes an input gear; wherein said clutch means include a first gear meshing with said output gear and driven thereby, a second gear meshing with said input gear, and a clutch for connecting and disconnecting said first and second gears in said engaged and disengaged positions, respectively; and wherein said clutch is operated by said control means.
 4. Arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said auxiliary depositing means include a gripper chain conveyor including grippers and a chain gear wheel; wherein said output roller includes an output gear meshing with said chain gear wheel for driving said gripper chain conveyor; movable cam means for opening and closing said grippers, and electromagnetic means controlled by said control means for actuating said cam means so that a sheet on said output roller is gripped and deposited on said first stack when said control means is in said setting up position.
 5. Setting up arrangement for a combined printing and stamping machine, comprising a printing machine including sheet feeding means, a plurality of printing rollers for printing and transporting a sheet, and includng an output roller, and auxiliary depositing means for receiving imprinted sheets from said output roller, and for depositing said sheet on a first stack; drive means for driving said printing machine; a stamping machine including a plurality of stamping rollers including an input roller; main depositing means for receiving stamped out sheet portions from said stamping machine and for depositing the stamped out sheets on a second stack; a transfer roller having an inoperative position separated from said output and input rollers, and a transfer position for transferring the imprinted sheets from said output roller to said input roller; clutch means having an engaged position for connecting said driven output roller, said transfer roller, and said input roller for rotation, and a disengaged position in which said stamping machine is not driven by said drive means; and control means having a setting up position for placing said transfer roller in said inoperative position and said clutch means in said disengaged position so that said printing machine can be set up separately while imprinted sheets are deposited on said first stack and said stamping machine is not driven by said drive means, and an operating position for placing said transfer roller in said transfer position and said clutch means in said engaged position so that said drive means drive said printing machine, said transfer roller, and said stamping machine while the imprinted and stamped out sheet portions are deposited on said second stack, wherein said output roller of said printing machine includes an output gear; wherein said input roller of said stamping machine includes an input gear; wherein said clutch means include a first gear meshing with said output gear and driven thereby, a second gear meshing with said input gear, and a clutch for connecting and discOnnecting said first and second gears in said engaged and disengaged positions, respectively, and wherein said clutch is operated by said control means; further including supporting means including a fixed sleeve supporting said first and second gears for free rotation about a common axis, and having an inner axial bore having a bore axis eccentric to said common axis; an eccentric bushing mounted in said bore and turnable therein by said control means, said bushing having an other eccentric bore having an other bore axis, said common axis and bore axes being parallel; and a shaft fixedly secured to said transfer roller mounted in said other eccentric bore so that said transfer roller can be placed in said inoperative and transfer positions by said control means; and means connecting said shaft with said second gear for rotation.
 6. Arrangement as claimed in claim 5 wherein said stamping machine includes a plurality of stamping rollers having the same diameter; wherein said printing machine includes a plurality of printing rollers at least one printing roller of said printing rollers having said diameter; and wherein the axis of said shaft coincides with said common axis when said clutch is engaged.
 7. Arrangement as defined in claim 5, wherein said drive means is operative when said clutch means is in engaged position for simultaneously driving said output roller of said printing machine and said input roller of said stamping machine at different respective peripheral speeds, and further including motion-transmitting means connecting said drive means to said transfer roller for causing the latter to rotate during transfer of a sheet to the transfer roller from said output roller at substantially the peripheral speed of said output roller, and for causing said transfer roller to rotate during transfer of the sheet from said transfer roller to said input roller at substantially the peripheral speed of said input roller, and wherein said motion-imparting means comprises a radial arm secured to said shaft for rotation therewith, and an articulated link connecting the radially outer end of said arm with said second gear for imparting motion to said transfer roller.
 8. Setting up arrangement for a combined printing and stamping machine, comprising a printing machine including sheet feeding means, a plurality of printing rollers for printing and transporting a sheet, and including an output roller, and auxiliary depositing means for receiving imprinted sheets from said output roller, and for depositing said sheet on a first stack; drive means for driving said printing machine; a stamping machine including a plurality of stamping rollers including an input roller; main depositing means for receiving stamped out sheet portions from said stamping machine and for depositing the stamped out sheets on a second stack; a transfer roller having an inoperative position separated from said output and input rollers, and a transfer positin for transferring the imprinted sheets from said output roller to said input roller; clutch means having an engaged position for connecting said driven output roller, said transfer roller, and said input roller for rotation, and a disengaged position in which said stamping machine is not driven by said drive means; and control means having a setting up position for placing said transfer roller in said inoperative position and said clutch means in said disengaged position so that said printing machine can be set up separately while imprinted sheets are deposited on said first stack and said stamping machine is not driven by said drive means, and an operating position for placing said transfer roller in said transfer position and said clutch means in said engaged position so that said drive means drive said printing machine, said transfer roller, and said stamping machine while the imprinted and stamped out sheet portions are deposited on said second stack, wherein said output roller of said printing machine includes an output gear; wherein said input roller of said stamping machine includes an input gear; wherein said clutch means include a first gear meshing with said output gear and driven thereby, a second gear meshing with said input gear, and a clutch for connecting and disconnecting said first and second gears in said engaged and disengaged positions, respectively; wherein said clutch is operated by said control means; comprising supporting means including a fixed sleeve supporting said first and second gears for free rotation about a common axis, and having an inner axial bore having a bore axis eccentric to said common axis; an eccentric bushing mounted in said bore and turnable therein by said control means, said bushing having an other eccentric bore having an other bore axis, said common axis and bore axes being parallel; a shaft fixedly secured to said transfer roller mounted in said other eccentric bore; and wherein said control means include first linkage means for operating said clutch, and second linkage means for operating said eccentric bushing, and manually operated means for simultaneously actuating said first and second linkage means.
 9. Arrangement as claimed in claim 8 wherein said manually operated means include a control shaft connecting said first and second linkage means, and a handle on said control shaft.
 10. In combination, a printing machine comprising first conveying means operative for conveying a sheet to be printed through the printing machine along a first predetermined path, and printing means for printing upon a sheet conveyed along said first path; a stamping machine comprised of second conveying means operative for conveying a sheet to be stamped through the stamping machine along a second predetermined path, and stamping means for performing a stamping operation upon a sheet conveyed along said second path; an inspection station for the inspection of printed but unstamped sheets; and routing means operative in a first selectable mode of operation for causing a sheet which has been conveyed along said first path to be fed to said stamping machine and conveyed along said second path, and operative in a second selectable mode of operation for causing a sheet which has been conveyed along said first path to be diverted from said second path and delivered to said inspection station for examination of the printed but unstamped sheet.
 11. The combination defined in claim 10, wherein said stamping means comprises means operative for cutting a sheet conveyed by said second conveying means along said second path.
 12. The combination defined in claim 10, wherein said stamping means comprises means operative for grooving a sheet conveyed by said second conveying means along said second path.
 13. The combination defined in claim 10, wherein said stamping means comprises means operative for cutting out at least one portion of a sheet conveyed by said second conveying means along said second path.
 14. The combination defined in claim 10, wherein said stamping means comprises means operative for cutting out and removing at least one protion of a sheet conveyed by said second conveying means along said second path.
 15. The combination defined in claim 10, wherein said first and second conveying means comprise parallel conveying rollers and wherein said first and second paths are elongated meandering paths defined by said conveying rollers, and wherein the directions of elongation of said first and second paths are the same, and wherein said routing means comprises means operative when said routing means is in said second selectable mode of operation for diverting a sheet which has been conveyed along said first path away from said second path and to said inspection station along an elongated third path whose direction of elongation is transverse to the direction of elongation of said first and second paths and generally parallel to the axes of said conveying rollers.
 16. The combination defined in claim 10, wherein said first and second conveying means comprise conveying rollers, And wherein said printing means and said stamping means respectively comprise printing and stamping rollers, and wherein said first and second paths are elongated meandering paths defined by said conveying, printing and stamping rollers, and wherein the rollers of said printing machine are provided with respective drive gears interconnected to form a respective first power train, and wherein said printing machine further includes drive means for driving said first power train, and wherein the rollers of said stamping machine are provided with respective drive gears interconnected to form a respective second power train, and wherein said routing means includes clutch menas operative when said routing means is in said first mode for establishing force-transmitting engagement between said first and second power trains to cause the former to drive the latter, and operative when said routing means is in said second mode for disengaging said second power train from said first power train.
 17. The combination defined in claim 16, wherein said stamping machine includes a respective drive means operative for separately driving said second power train when the latter is disengaged from said first power train.
 18. The combination defined in claim 16, wherein said stamping machine includes a stacker for stacking stamped sheets which have been conveyed by said second conveying means along said second path, whereby when said routing means is in said first mode printed and stamped sheets will be stacked by said stacker whereas when said routing means is in said second mode printed but unstamped sheets will be delivered to said inspection station for examination.
 19. Arrangement as defined in claim 13, wherein said drive means is operative when said clutch mens is in engaged position for simultaneously driving said output roller of said printing machine and said input roller of said stamping machine at different peripheral speeds, and further including motion-transmitting means connecting said drive means to said transfer roller in force-transmitting manner and operative for causing the latter to rotate during transfer of a sheet to the transfer roller from said output roller at substantially the peripheral speed of said output roller, and for causing said transfer roller to rotate during transfer of a sheet from said transfer roller to said input roller at substantially the peripheral speed of said input roller.
 20. Arrangement as claimed in claim 19 wherein said stamping machine includes a plurality of stamping rollers including said input roller and having the same diameter; wherein said printing machine includes a plurality of printing rollers, at least one printing roller of said printing rollers having a smaller diameter than said diameter of said stamping rollers, said stamping rollers and said one printing roller rotating at the same angular velocity and performing one revolution during each machine cycle, and wherein said diameter of said stamping rollers is up to 1.5 times the diameter of said one printing roller. 